We Were Beaten, Starved, and Denied Basic Care for 2 Weeks — Kaduna Church Abductees
We Were B+aten, Starved, and Denied Basic Care for 2 Weeks — Kaduna Church Abductees
Dozens of worshippers abd¥cted from two churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have shared their p@inful experiences after regaining freedom.
The victims were kidnapped on January 18, 2026, during a church service and spent about two weeks in captivity before they were rescued on Thursday.
One of the survivors, Hosea Madami, said they were constantly beaten and p+orly fed. He explained that they were given little food without salt and forced to trek for days in the forest under harsh conditions.
Another victim, Rebecca Josiah, described hunger as one of the worst parts of their ordeal. She said she ate only four times during the two weeks and often had to carry hot food in her clothes. According to her, children cried constantly due to hunger, while many captives walked barefoot for days, suffering inj¥ries.
Philomena Jonathan added that the abd¥ctors frequently b£at the men and gave everyone very little food. A woman who chose to remain anonymous said they were not allowed to bathe throughout their stay, even though they slept near a river. She added that coughing or crying often attracted p¥nishment.
A pregnant victim, Theresa Irimiya, said she was spared physical abuse and was later released with some children. An elderly woman said she hid in the bushes for days before escaping to a nearby settlement.
A community leader revealed that the victims were released late on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning after security vehicles were seen entering a forest near Maro town. It remains unclear whether ransom or other demands were met.
Earlier reports said 177 people were abd¥cted during the att+ck, with some escaping immediately, while others were found weeks later.
The village head of Kurmin Wali, Ishaku Dan’azumi, thanked the Kaduna State Government and security agencies for ensuring the safe return of the victims, adding that they are now in government care.
